Schools

Easton School Board and Teachers Union Closer to Agreement

Statement issued suggests negotiations close to end

The Easton Area School Board and teachers union say significant progress is being made toward an agreement.

The board and Easton Area Education Association issued a statement posted on the district’s website today to provide an update on negotiations after meeting Wednesday to discuss the possible ways to prevent teacher layoffs.

The statement said, “As a collective group, we believe that we have made significant progress toward reaching an agreement. We are closer than we have ever been and feel strongly that things will be rectified and made public in the near future.”

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At last week's board meeting, officials tabled a vote to cut 160 teacher positions along with several school programs.

In April, the district presented a plan to save nearly $15 million through laying off , which would mean the end to a variety of programs. Athletics would lose about $1.3 million, while the Easton Area Public Library would lose $1.2 million -- nearly all of its funding.

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The association has proposed a one-year voluntary pay freeze, a 50 percent tuition reimbursement benefit reduction and an early-retirement incentive for teachers.


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